Drug-impaired driving is a national threat to public safety and public health

We Must REDUCE THE Tragic TOLL OF DRUGS ON OUR NATION'S ROADS

While there are effective public health and public safety messages about the dangers of drunk driving, there is little public knowledge of the threat to highway safety of drugged driving. Rates of drunk driving in the United States have declined dramatically, supported by effective laws, strong enforcement and widespread education. This public safety and public health success can be further improved by new efforts focused on drugged driving.

Efforts to reduce drug-impaired driving support and complement - and do not compete with - efforts to reduce alcohol-impaired driving.

For decades there has been a growing and impressive body of scientific study on the effects of drugs on driving. While it is clear that, like alcohol, drug use by drivers puts everyone on the road at risk, there are essential research priorities to document and track the problem of drugged driving that must be addressed today.

There are many misconceptions about the way drugged drivers are identified by law enforcement. We walk through typical driving under the influence (DUI) enforcement procedures and identify new opportunities for improved enforcement.

Did you know --

When DUI suspects have an illegal Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) of 0.08g/dL or more, they are almost never drug tested.

When drivers are tested for drugs, it is after they have been arrested for DUI.

Typically, only arrested DUI suspects who test negative for alcohol are tested for drugs.